How to Clean a Bird Bath

Keep your birds happy

Dirty bird baths can become unpleasant for both birds and humans. Here's how to get rid of the slimy gunk and clean up your birds' bathing and watering hole.

By the DIY experts of The Family Handyman Magazine

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Quick cleanup

Scrub thoroughly

Scrub the surface of the bath with a steel or plastic brush until the stains disappear.

Stubborn stains in a bird bath are usually caused by chemicals in rain, tap water or well water as well as organic debris. Fill the basin with a quart of water, add 1/2 cup of household bleach, then scrub the basin with a wire brush until any gunk or discoloration disappears. (Use a soft scrub brush rather than a wire brush on shiny ceramic surfaces.) Take care that you don’t splash bleach on surrounding vegetation. Rinse well to ensure the bird bath remains chemical-free.

Required Tools for this Project

You’ll need a wire or plastic brush, rubber gloves and a hose.

Required Materials for this Project

Avoid last-minute shopping trips by having all your materials ready ahead of time. Here’s a list.